California Institute of Technology

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Pasadena, CA
5.0 2 reviews

#7 Best Colleges in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

2,430

Location Pasadena, California
Website caltech.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Midsize City

Best Colleges Rank

Size Small
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) occupies a 124-acre campus in Pasadena, California, approximately 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The private research university, founded in 1891 as Throop University, features Spanish Mission-style architecture across its main campus, including the distinctive Beckman Auditorium. Caltech maintains highly selective undergraduate admissions and is recognized globally for its programs in science and engineering, particularly in physics, astronomy, and chemistry, with multiple affiliated Nobel laureates. The institution operates several major research facilities, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for NASA, the Seismological Laboratory, and the International Observatory at Palomar. All undergraduate students are required to live on campus for their first two years, and most continue to reside in one of the eight student houses or residential communities throughout their academic career.

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Ratings

Caltech is rated within the top 2% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for California Institute of Technology within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Exceptional

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1530/1580
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 35/36

Acceptance Rate

2.6%

Applications Due Jan 3, 2027
Enrollment Rate 61.2%
Application Fee $75

Applicant Competition Extreme

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$65,898

Costs for California Institute of Technology
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$65,898
Books and Supplies		$1,428
Other Fees		$2,496
Room and Board		$20,283
Budget for Other Expenses		$3,213
Total One Year Cost		$93,318

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$85,800 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

87% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at California Institute of Technology are Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Computer and Information Sciences. 41% of students major in Engineering, 25% in Physical Sciences, and 11% in Computer and Information Sciences.